Tracklaying tractor



Nov. 23 1926.

` C. L. BEST TRAGKLAYING TRACTOR Filed sept. fz, 1922 3 Sheets-sheet 1 3mm/MM.'

Oms,

Nov. 23 1926.

c. L BEST. TRACKLAYNG TRACTOR Filed Sept. '7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nom 2.3,

UNITED '.sTA'Ti-:s PATENT' orrlclafjl MENTS, To CATERPILLAR TRACTOR Cor.' or sAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, A oon- RORATION OF CALIFORNIA.4 y

TrurcxLAYine TRACTOR. Application med september v, 1922. serial No. 556,707.

This. invention relates to improvements l, yspaced side plates 2, 2, provided with in track laying tractors, and-more especialllly; upper track bars 2, a 'Sleeve 3 at' one end, to an improved sprocket Wheel for 'the l1 and a p m or strut 4 at the otherend. The treads or belts thereof. link members are arranged in overlapping 5 A yserious difficulty experienced 'in lthe relation, as shown, with the pins or struts 5i operation of track laying tractors is clog- 4 engaging the sleeves 3, the latter being ging of the sprocket wheels over which-fthe adapted to engagebetween the` teeth of the link treads run, this resulting in thebreaksprocket wheel. ing of theJ tghtener boxes, springing of the The invention comprehends an improved l0 axles, and in some cases buckling of 'the sprocket wheel having teetlr arranged in so frame. The object of the present invention staggered rela-tlon, the teeth being vrelatively -is t Overcome this difficulty, t0 provide an 'narrow and of le'ssfwidth than the sleevesor improved eiiicient relatively light strong sprocket engaging members 3 of theA link sprocket wheel structure which willbe self tread,'whereby less surface is presented for cleaning, that will present less surface for the accumulation of dirt and increased 6.5

the accu'mulation'of dirt, and that will act space about the teeth is provided to permit to shed and force the dirt therefrom. the dirt to drop therefrom.` At thev same The' invention with other objects and ad;` time an efficientv engagement of the teeth vantages thereof, and the particular conwith the sprocket engaging members 3 of the struction, combination and arrangement of .tread over substantially the entire length of 7o i arts comprising the same, .will be under said members is afforded: The invention stood from the' hereinafter contained 4detail also contemplates providing the teeth with description, when considered in .connection inclined faces which` act to force out the with the accompanying drawings, forming dirt, and in the provision of relief or vent f part hereof, andfi'llustrating one embodi- Openings at the bottom of the sprocket I5 ment of theinvention.` spaces.

In the drawings; In the `exempliiication of my improved ,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section wheel illustrated in the drawings, the wheel of a sprocketwheel construction in accord# has a''rim 5, substantiallyv of rectangular ance with the present invention, the wheel shape in cross sectionv and a plurality of so being shown lengaging a portion of a link teeth 6, 7,1 and 8 of general inverted "V- tread. v shaped form providing -tlie usual sprocket Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 formation to be engaged by the sleeves or of Figure l. sprocket engaging-members 3 lofthe link 31|A Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, on-an enlarged treads. TheA teeth are relatively narrow, 35

scale, of a section of the outer portion ofthe of less ,width than the sprocket engaging `sprocket wheel. members 3l ofthe link treads and are ar- `Fig. 4 is a' side' elevation, -On an enlarged ranged lin staggered relation.v By this spe-- scale, of a portion'of thesprocket wheel. .cial arrangement less surface is presented 40 Fig. 5 Ais a transverse section on the line by Ithe teeth-for the accumulation of dirt, 90

7 7 of riga.

5-5 Fig. 4. I and a more open Vstructure lwith increased Fig. 6 is -a transversesection on the line space about the teethis provided to facili- 1 `6--6- of Fig. 4., tate the loosening and dropping of the dirt y Fig. 7 isv a transversejsection on the line from the teeth. ,l

As hereinbefore intimated the invention 95 In the drawings is illustrated 4a portion also contemplates providing vthe teeth with of one of the well iknown forms of link linclined outer side'faces sloping outwardly treads for`tr`ack laying tractors made up of to the side of the wheel, which act to shed link members pivotally connected to ether, and forcibly eject dirt therefrom. In the each link member comprising a tread plate particular construction shown, the teeth are .100

arrangedin regular order in series of threes across the rim 5, and alternate teeth 6, 8 are respectively provided with abruptly invclined outer side faces 6a, 8a, slo ing'out-k wardly toward opposite sides of tie wheel.

.The intermediate teeth 7 taper toward their outer ends, having curved side faces 7,

. )319 designates relief or )'ent openings leading from .the sprocket spaces for letting out mud or dirt from the bottom offthe sprocket spaces. Two of such relief openings are provided at each sprocket, said relief open- -relief'openingsl l0, this further contributing `'shaped reduced portion' forming ings extending from near the central' part of. the adjoining portions of adjacent teethA outwardly to op osite sides of the wheel and having outward y sloping side -andbottom walls A10a, 10b. Each tooth near'its base is l provided with a substantially triangular openings 11 therein at opposite sides ad]oining the to a light open structure ywhich at the same time will ossess the' required strength.v

It will e noted that. the* special construe` tion, hereinbefore described, provides for an' eilicient engagement between the teeth of the sprocket wheel. over substantially the entire length of the sprocket engaging .members of the link chain and at the same time thestructure'is ofa more open nature to prevent clogging. y. Less surface is presented by the teeth for theaccumulation of dirt, increased space is provided about they teeth by fthev staggered 4arrangement thereof, v'and the 'inclined outer lside'pfaces ofthe-teethserve to shed and forciblyfeject the dirt laterally therefrom.` The relief openings provide a free passage -fondirt and mud vfrom the sprocket vspaces at fthe base there0.--The Irelief openings extend from near the'central part of the adjoining portions of adjacent teethso that said adjoining 'portions are relatively narrowand act'to shed the dirt or mud toeither side thereof. The wheel while possessing these open characteristics providing for the-elimination of the-'dirt Vand mud therefrom, is designed to Agive the required strength. The particular form and arltread.

g'frangement of thefteeth alsoA functions, as

will be understood, toloosen and remove dirt from 'the lspacesin the links of the chain what I clfiii 1 n 1`. In a' track-laying tractor, the combination with a linkf-fftread, each link of the link tread including a singlepair lof spaced y side members with transverse sprocket engaging members extending between the same, of a sprocket wheel to coo eratevwith the link IAtread, said sprocket w eel being provided with teeth Ihaving outer portions of 1 substantially less width than the distance between the side members of the links and the length of the transverse sprocket `engaging members. of the link tread, and arranged in staggered relation, saidvouter portions of the teeth of the sprocket `wheel together cn- .gaging over substantially theentireactivc snrface 'lengthwise of the transverse sprocket engaging members of the chain. -;f p 2. In a Atrack laying tractor, the .combination-With a link tread, each link of the tread including. a pair of spaced side, members with transverse s procketengaging members extending between the' same, said sprocket wheel being provided with teeth .having outer,k portions of substantially less width than the distance between the side members of the links of the tread and the length' of the transverse sprocket engaging members ofthe link tread, and arranged in staggered relation, some of the'` teeth of the sprocket wheel having opposingl outer .side faces sloping outwardly from' the outer ends ot' l the teeth toward opposite sides 'ofthe wheel at a dierent pitch from each other.

3. In a' track laying tractor, the combination with-.a link tread, each link of the tread includingy a pair of ,spaced side members with transverse sprocket engaging memberscxtendingbetween the same, said sprocket wheel "being provided with teeth having outer portions of. substantially less width than the distancebetween the side members of the links of the tread, and the length vof the links of the tread and the length of the transverse sprocket engaging members of the link tread, some of the teeth .of the sprocket wheel having one outer side face portion extending'from the outer end of the tooth outwardly toward one side of' the voj the transverse sprocket engaging members of the link tread,and alternate teeth` wheel in a gradual slope, and atthe other side having a face portion extending from the outer end of the tooth 'outwardly at an abrupt inclination to one side ofthe wheel.

5. In a track laying tractor, the combination with a link tread, each link of the tread including a pair lof spaced side members with transverse sprocket engaging members extending between the same, said sprocket wheel being providedl with teeth' having outer portions of substantially less Width than the distance between the side members ofthe linksV of the tread and the length of the transverse sprocket engaging membersv of the` link tread, some of the teeth of the Sprocket Wheel having one outer side face portion extending from the outer end of the tooth outwardly toward one/sidey of the Sonie of -said abruptiy outwardly soping outer side face portions ofthe teeth being disposed at one side of the wheel und others vai', the opposite side of vthe wheelf/ In testimonyxwhereof Ihereun L affix lny signature'.

CLARENQEfLEo BEST.I 

